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Punchestown 2024
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Review leopardstown 16th Jun
Dick Whittington and Seamie Heffernan come home in front of Al Mohalhal and Kevin Manning
© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien enjoyed a landmark day at Royal Ascot and was also successful on home soil, with Dick Whittington s victory in the Oliver Brady Memorial Shabra Ballycorus Stakes the highlight of a Leopardstown double.
A good third in the Greenlands Stakes on his previous outing, the 7-4 shot was stepped up to seven furlongs and settled in mid-division.
Seamie Heffernan sent him after the frontrunning Al Mohalhal early in the straight and he was soon on top, eventually landing the Group Three prize by two and three-quarter lengths, with a gap back to the remainder.< Californiadreaming (100-30) began the Ballydoyle brace in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock has been highly tried but finally got her head in front, proving half a length too strong for Grainne's Dream
The money came for O'Brien's unraced Courage Under Fire before the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden he was never a factor as the spoils went to the Michael O'Callaghan-trained Mirdif
Only fourth when favourite for Fairyhouse introduction, he stepped forward markedly to see off Istan by a length and three-quarters as the 3-1 favourite.
The application of blinkers did the trick for Jefferson Davis (5-1) in the Korea Racing Authority Handicap.
Two performances over a mile and a quarter this season offered little encouragement but the shades, combined with the drop to a mile, brought about a change in fortunes and he stayed on to account for Camile by a length and three-quarters.< Ceol Na Nog (4-7 favourite) continues on her merry way and completed a hat-trick in the space of less than three weeks with the minimum of fuss in the Academic Rated Race.< Lagostovegas looked like he could run away with the Shabra Charity Handicap when shooting clear at the top of the straight, but Harry Kelly's smart hurdler began to tread water as the welter burden of 10 stone kicked in and the line only just came in time for the 7-2 favourite.